Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Inland Township, Michigan

Inland Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Inland Township, governed by the Homestead Inland Joint Zoning Ordinance (joint with Homestead Township)

  • Ordinance is joint with Homestead Township under the Joint Planning Act (Act 226 of 2003) and the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act
  • Inland's own township website (inlandtownshipmi.gov) page was not found to host the text; copy cited is on Homestead Township's site

  “an ordinance to provide for the establish land use zoning districts and regulations in the townships of homestead and inland, county of benzie and state of michigan”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts applying inside Inland Township under the joint ordinance

  • Boundaries are shown on the map titled 'Homestead and Inland Townships Zoning Maps, Benzie County, Michigan'

  districts: FR, RR, R-1, MR, MH, C-1

  “the following zoning districts shall be established: fr forest residential district rr rural residential district r-1 single family residential district mr mixed residential district mh manufactured housing community district c -1 general commercial district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single Family Residential (R-1) district inside Inland Township

  • Also requires 150 feet minimum frontage on a public or private road

  minimum lot size: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet

  “lot size - each dwelling or other structure or facility together with all accessory buildings or facilities hereafter erected or constructed shall be located on a lot or parcel of not less than one (1) acre.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Residential (RR) district inside Inland Township

    “lot size - each dwelling or other structure or facility together with all accessory buildings or facilities hereafter erected or constructed shall be located on a lot or parcel of not less than two and one half (2 1/2) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single Family Residential (R-1) district inside Inland Township

  • Structures housing farm animals at least 50 feet from any lot line
  • 50 feet water setback from lakes, streams and watercourses

  front setback: >= 40 feet · side setback: >= 20 feet · rear setback: >= 20 feet

  “setbacks - 1. front - forty (40) feet. 2. sides - twenty (20) feet. 3. rear - twenty (20) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Residential (RR) district inside Inland Township

    “setbacks - 1. front - forty (40) feet. 2. sides - twenty (20) feet. 3. rear - twenty (20) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single Family Residential (R-1) district inside Inland Township

  • Farm structures excepted

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (farm structures)

  “height - thirty five feet (35) except for farm structures.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Residential (RR) district inside Inland Township

    “height - thirty five feet (35) except for farm structures.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailer / RV used as a dwelling inside Inland Township

  • Only for the owner during construction of a conforming dwelling, location must meet district yard requirements
  • One additional twelve-month extension may be obtained
  • Recreational camping is separately limited to 180 days per year (section 3.8)

  temporary dwelling period: <= 12 months (one additional 12-month extension)

  “the use shall be for the sole purpose of providing dwelling facilities for the owner of the premises during the period in which a dwelling conforming to the provisions of this ordinance is in process of erection and completion, but not to exceed twelve (12) months.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Private non-commercial camping on vacant or improved land inside Inland Township

  • Access to sanitary facilities required; waste disposal must meet health department requirements
  • RV storage allowed in side and rear yards but not within required setbacks

  camping limit: <= 180 days per calendar year

  “camping on any property shall not exceed a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any calendar year.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile/manufactured homes inside Inland Township

  • Outside licensed mobile home parks they are treated as single-family dwellings and must meet all single-family dwelling regulations
  • Mobile homes in licensed parks must comply with Act 96 of 1987

  “mobile homes located outside of licensed mobile home parks shall be considered single-family dwellings as defined in this ordinance and shall comply with all regulations applicable to single family dwellings.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Site condominium and subdivision developments in RR (and identically R-1) districts inside Inland Township

  • Allowed by right subject to site plan approval under Article XIII section 13.4.a, a land use permit, and section 3.27

  “site condominium and subdivision developments subject to section 3.27”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals inside Inland Township in any district where single-family dwellings are permitted

  • Planning commission approval via site plan review (Article XIII)
  • Zoning permit application to the zoning administrator with a fee set by township board resolution
  • Proof of ownership or legal right to rent required

  “short-term rentals shall be permitted in any zoning district in which single-family dwellings are permitted, subject to planning commission approval per article xiii, site plan review.”

Rules another office applies inside Inland Township

Inland Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Inland Township, Benzie County, enforced by Benzie County Building Safety & Code Enforcement

  • Page speaks of state codes countywide; it does not name Inland Township or the specific code editions
  • Building official is appointed by the county board or township boards

  “this department is responsible for administration and enforcement of the state code or codes, in benzie county and springdale township in manistee county”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Inland Township or Benzie County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Inland Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits inside Inland Township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Inland Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Inland Township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Inland Township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.